Ottawa narrows army vehicle procurement to Canadian suppliers

The Carney government has changed course on the Canadian army’s light utility vehicle program, ending the next phase of an estimated $4.9 billion competition and moving to a more limited procurement process. Instead of keeping the competition open to all qualifying bidders, Public Services and Procurement Canada now plans to invite only a small number of Canadian defence suppliers. The approach appears to exclude U.S. firms that were part of the original field. The program is meant to replace older military light vehicles and trailers, and the government says the revised process is intended to strengthen Canada’s defence industrial base. Officials have not said which Canadian companies will be selected.